Thermally stable optical-fiber switch

Abstract

A fiber-optic switch has a fiber-optic switching element in which an adjustment structure ( 8 ) is used for positioning of at least one moving fiber ( 1 ) by means of a switching body ( 2 c ) in front of at least one fiber ( 4, 6 ), which is arranged in a fixed position, by means of reference surfaces ( 3 a, 3 b, 5 a, 5 b ) , in which case both the moving fiber ( 1 ) and the fibers ( 4, 6 ) which are arranged in fixed positions are held such that they can be moved longitudinally within the adjustment structure but rest on the reference surfaces ( 3 a, 3 b, 5 a, 5 b ), and a mount ( 11 ) with a thermal coefficient of expansion which is comparable to that of the fibers ( 1, 4, 6 ) holds the adjustment structure ( 8 ) and fixes both the moving fiber ( 1 ) and the fibers ( 4, 6 ) which are arranged in fixed positions longitudinally, at least as far as their effect is concerned.

1 . A fiber-optic switching element, having an adjustment structure ( 8 ) for positioning of at least one moving fiber ( 1 ) in front of at least one fiber ( 4 ,  6 ), which is arranged in a fixed position, by means of reference surface ( 3   a,    3   b,    5   a,    5   b ) , in which case both the moving fiber ( 1 ) and the fibers ( 4 ,  6 ) which are arranged in fixed positions are held such that they can be moved longitudinally within the adjustment structure but rest on the reference surfaces ( 3   a,    3   b,    5   a,    5   b ), characterized in that a mount ( 11 ) with a thermal coefficient of expansion which is comparable to that of the fibers ( 1 ,  4 ,  6 ) holds the adjustment structure ( 8 ) and fixes both the moving fiber ( 1 ) and the fibers ( 4 ,  6 ) which are arranged in fixed positions longitudinally, at least as far as their effect is concerned.  
     
     
         2 . The fiber-optic switching element as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the mount ( 11 ) is formed from glass ceramic, ceramic or glass.  
     
     
         3 . the fiber-optic switching element as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that the mount ( 11 ) is a part of the housing for the fiber-optic switching element.  
     
     
         4 . The fiber-optic switching element as claimed in one of  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that the adjustment structure ( 8 ) and both the moving fiber ( 1 ) as well as the fibers ( 4 ,  6 ) which are arranged in fixed positions are each mounted rigidly at one point on the mount ( 11 ).  
     
     
         5 . The fiber-optic switching element as claimed in one of  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that the adjustment structure ( 8 ) and the moving fiber ( 1 ) are each mounted rigidly at one point on the mount ( 11 )—and the fibers ( 4 ,  6 ) which are arranged in fixed positions are each mounted rigidly at one point at the longitudinal position (P 1 ) on the adjustment structure ( 11 ), at which position (P 1 ) the adjustment structure ( 8 ) is rigidly mounted on the mount ( 11 ), or in that the adjustment structure ( 8 ) and the fibers ( 4 ,  6 ) which are arranged in fixed positions are each mounted rigidly at one point on the mount ( 11 ) and the moving fiber ( 1 ) is mounted rigidly at one point at the longitudinal position on the adjustment structure ( 8 ) at which the adjustment structure ( 8 ) is mounted rigidly on the mount ( 11 ).  
     
     
         6 . The fiber-optic switching element as claimed in one of  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that the adjustment structure ( 8 ) is mounted rigidly at in each case one point in its two longitudinal end regions on the mount ( 11 ), and both the moving fiber ( 1 ) and the fibers ( 4 ,  6 ) which are arranged in fixed positions are each mounted rigidly at one point at the longitudinal position (P 1 , P 2 ) on the adjustment structure ( 8 ), with the adjustment structure ( 8 ) having a thinned region between its two fixings.  
     
     
         7 . The fiber-optic switching element as claimed in one of  claims 1  to  6 , characterized in that the adjustment structure ( 8 ) is formed from polymer materials.  
     
     
         8 . The fiber-optic switching element as claimed in one of  claims 1  to  7 , characterized in that the adjustment structure ( 8 ) is produced by molding.  
     
     
         9 . A fiber-optic switch, characterized by one or more fiber-optic switching elements which are stacked one above the other or alongside one another as claimed in one of  claims 1  to  8 , which are driven jointly by a common actuator.  
     
     
         10 . The fiber-optic switch as claimed in  claim 9 , characterized in that all the switching elements which are stacked one above the other or alongside one another and the respective associated fibers are fixed on the same mount ( 11 ).  
     
     
         11 . A fiber-optic switch component, characterized by one or more fiber-optic switches which are stacked one on top of the other or alongside one another, as claimed in  claim 9  or  10 .  
     
     
         12 . The fiber-optic switch component as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that all the switching elements which are stacked one above the other or alongside one another and the respective associated fibers are fixed on the same mount ( 11 ).